Rotary slicer



M. F. KELLEY Feb. 7, 1939.

ROTARY SLICER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 5, 1936 INVENTQR. MHE'TIN FlKELLEY.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 7, 1939.

M. F. KELLEY 2,146,074

- ROTARY .SLICER Filed March 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 4' I 4 A\ 5 J2 f0 I 56 55 67 5g 6/ 4h 58 48 i E- 5, I 41 5 mu A A INVENTOR. MHE'T'IN F.KELLEY.

ATTORNEY.

M. F. KELLEY IRO'IARY SLICER Feb. 7, 1939.

Filed March 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN-TOR. Maarm Ff KELLEY.

ATTORNEY.

M. F KELLEY 2,146,074

' ROTARY SLICER Filed March 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y E u h o M HH I II HHOH x m 9 T 9 R a a E 8 M .1 M, K w 7 k m m WHHHHHHHHIIMHFH x w M 7-0 1. 7 A w Feb. 7, 1939.

IN VENTOR.

. ATTORNEY.

v l l unmwfi.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in rotary slicers andin particularto the type in which knife blades are arranged on arotating table in such a way as to slice boards or sheets in anypre-adjusted thickness from a block of material, and is a continuationin part of my application for United States Letters Patent filed June28, 1932, Serial No. 619,666 for Rotary power plane.

An object of the invention is to provide in a rotary slicer having acutting element, mechanism adapted to facilitate compression of thestock just prior to being sliced, to convey the stock to the cuttingelement, to prevent the splitting or tearing of the stock during theslicing operation, to steady the table during the slicing operation, andto aid in ejecting the sliced pieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slicer having arotatabletable, a plurality of cutting elements mounted upon the table,a stationary hopper located'in the track of the cutting elements, thestationary hopper being adapted to receive the stock to be fed to thecutting elements mounted on the table for the slicing operation, anopening underneath the cutting elements, the opening or passage beingpreferably larger in area than that of the stock to be sliced, aplurality of rollers, rotatably mounted in the opening of the table, anyor all of which rollers may be conical and mechanically driven.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary slicer with arotatable table and a stationary hopper in the track of the cuttingelements, the hopper having an adjustable side and also a friction leverto stop the feeding of the stock in the hopper to the cutting elementswhen desired.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide means in such a devicefor cutting wedged-shaped pieces.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary slicer havingcutting elements and friction or driven rollers adjacent to the latterand being arranged underneaththe cutting elements and of sufiicient areato eliminate any contact of the sliced board during the cuttingoperation with any part of the machine except the cutting element andthe rollers, thereby eliminating any possibility of distortion orbreakage in the sliced pieces and preventing permanent curling, thecutting element being made to cover the opening and preferably as thinas practicable tofacilitate in the elimination of any curling action inthe sliced piece.

These and other objects of this invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following describedspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating preferred embodiments by which this invention may berealized, and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a sectional top plan view, taken along line l-l ofFigure 2.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the view shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the rotatable table showing thearrangement of the rollers and track.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through one half of the rotatable table alongline 4-4 of Figure 1 and showing power driven roller.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of rotatable table along line 5-5 of Figure4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of rotatable table driven by means of adriving belt.

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view of Figure 6 showing also theangularity of the cutting elements when cutting wedged-shaped pieces,such as shingles.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a block of material showing therespective location of the wedged-shaped pieces.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of rotatable table similar to Figure 5, butshowing a simplified compression and roller arrangement.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, the knife being shown inoperation, cutting a board.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational View of Figure 2.

Fig. 12 is a sectional perspective view of a cutting element employed inthe invention.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of rollers.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of table showing tilting anvil located on thehopper in operable position.

Fig. 15 is a similar view to Figure 16 with the tilting anvil inopposite position after table 32 has made one half a revolution.

Fig. 16 is a view along lines I 6-[6 of Figure 14.

Fig. 17 illustrates a modified tilting anvil arrangement.

Fig. 18 is a similar view to Figure 17 with the tilting anvil in itsopposite position.

Fig. 19 is a top plan view illustrating a rotary table anddiagrammatically indicating the hopper with tilting anvil arrangementaccording to Figures 17 and 18.

In the drawings there is disclosed a frame construction 25, having abelt driven pulley 26, connected by means of clutch 21 to a drive shaft28. Pinion 29 fastened to the horizontal shaft 28 is in engagement withgear 30, thereby driving vertical shaft 3| with the rotatable table 32mounted thereon. The clutch 21 may be operated by means of a lever 33. Athrust bearing 34 supports the weight of the shaft 3| and table 32. Thetable is provided with shoulders or ribs 55 against which the cuttingelements 40 abut.

A feeder or hopper I-I may be suitably mounted to the frame 25 by meansof braces B and a bracket 35 is provided to steady table 32 duringcutting operation. This hopper H is of such construction as tofacilitate the insertion of the material M, to be sliced. To obtain thisfacilitation in loading, the upper ends of the hopper I-I may be slanteddownwardly as shown at 36, and the front of the hopper H may be cut outas shown at 31.

The hopper H may be provided with an adjustable side 38 so as to makethe hopper H adjustable to any width stock to be sliced. For thispurpose any suitable wedging device (not shown) may be inserted betweenthe stationary side 63 of hopper H and the horizontally movable oradjustable side 38 to move the latter forwardly against the stock. Thehopper H is further provided with a friction device 39 to hold the stockM from moving downward, if desired, as for example, when desiring tostop further operation of the machine. For

this purpose the friction device 39 may comprise a plate X which ishinged to a lever Y, the latter being pivoted to hopper H. By pushinglever Y down, plate X will press against the stock to prevent the latterfrom continuing downward, the lever X being held in this position bymeans of a notched bracket Z. The hopper H is made deep enough so thatsufficient weight of the stock M in the hopper H will facilitate thefeeding thereof and also offer resistance to the impact and shockresulting from the stock coming in contact with the cutting element 40and the roller bar 4! hereinafter described.

To steady the rotatable table 32, guide members may be provided aboveand below the table. These guide members may be of the friction or ofthe anti-friction type. As for example, and as indicated in thedrawings, there may be provided a guide member 35 over table 32 and aguide member 42 under table 32. .There may also be provided a guidemember as indicated in Figure 2. Although member 4| is indicated asbeing an anti-friction guide and 42 and 35 as friction guides,nevertheless either .typemay be used. Table 32 is provided with aplurality of openings or passages 43 over which cutting elements orblades 40 secured to table 32 by bolts 65' project. The cutting element43 substantially covers the opening 43.

Rotatably mounted in table 32 at the entrance to the openings orpassages 43with reference to the direction of rotation of table 32, is aroller bar 4'! which may comprise a series of alined rollers mounted ona shaft 41 and which are similar to but preferably smaller in diameterthan the alined rollers 44' of roller element hereinafter described.Roller bar 41 is located with respect to a respective cutting element 40in such manner that the cutting edge 66 of the latter is substantiallyin vertical alinement with the longitudinal axis of the former. Eachseries of rollers of roller bar 41 projects slightly above the surfaceof table 32, and act as anti-friction devices and also as compressionmembers. On account of roller bar 41 projecting slightly above thesurface of table 32 and being partially in. advance of the adjacentcutting element 40, the stock just prior to its being sliced by thecutting edge 66 ofthe cutting element will-becompressed. The

fibres of the stock are thus pressed closer together which brings abouta smooth out and eliminates possible tearing or fracturing of thematerial. The projecting rollers 41 also prevent wear of table 32 at itsedge bordering opening or pas- I in passage 43 of table 32 i Thisprovision is a eration. Directly under roller element 44 is 10- cated adriven conically-shaped roller 48. Roller 43 may be driven asillustrated in Figure 3 by driving portion 49 contacting with theunderside of a track 50 mounted on frame 25. The preferableconstruction, however, is illustrated in Figure 4 in which the conicalroller 48 is mounted on adjustable bearings 5| and 52 by means of shaft53. Shaft 53 terminates in a universal joint 54 and thereby connectswith a horizontal shaft 55'.

This horizontal shaft 55 is mounted in bearings 55 and 51. free end ofshaft 55. Bevelled gear 58 is in mesh with a fixed circular rack 50mounted or made integral with the thrust bearing housing 59. Therotating table 32 when in motion will thereby propel the conical roller48 in a fixed ratio to its speed.

A bevelled gear 58 is mounted on the The cutting elements are preferablymade in two pieces, namely, the cover piece 43a and the cutting edgesection 40b. Holes 64 are provided in these two sections 4011 and 4012so as to secure same to table 32. To aid in absorbing the shock at themoment of impact, the cutting element is made to abut against the rib65. The bolt 65' secures the cutting element 40 to the rotatable table32.

The roller element 44 and roller bar 4! may become shaped in lieu ofbeing made up of a series of rollers as hereinabove indicated; Fig;

13 diagrammatically shows these cone-shaped rollers as being 44" and41", respectively.

' Rollers 44 and 48 when cone-shaped and mechanically driven, can besmaller in diameterand more uniform in size, with relation'to eachother, thus providing both traction and straightening characteristicsfor the cut board.

By having the longitudinal axis of roller 4'! in vertical alinement withthe cutting edge of element 40, as the machine is being operated, anupward pressure is exerted against the stock M to be sliced thuscompressing it, thereby preventing tearing or ripping of the material.The stock is being pressed at all times against the cutting edge of theblade 40.

A function of roller 48 or 48' is to deliver or eject the sliced pieceafter the cutting operation shall have been completed. Roller 41 or 41reduces friction of the forwardly moving sliced material. The space 68formed between cutting edge 56 of the cutter 40 and roller 41 i'slof thethickness of the sliced board or veneer. Hence, the thickness of the cutor sliced boards or veneer may be varied by using a blade or cuttingelement of predetermined thickness or by shimming the openings orpassages 43. It is evident that table 32 should be heavy enough tofacilitate the cutting of the stock through the blades by the momentumof the table, the latter absorbing the shocks incident to contactbetween the blade and the stock.

In the following description of the operation of the device specialreference is made to Figures 4, 5,9and 10.-

A proper sized block of material or stock M is inserted in the hopper.This block is held in a suspended position slightly above the cuttingelement 48 by means of clamp 38. During the operation of the device newmaterial or stock is constantly fed into thehopper, as desired.

The rotatable table 32 is put in motion and when its rotation hasreached its maximum speed the clamp 39is released permitting the blockof material M to rest on the table 32 within the path of'the cuttingelements 48. This procedure is necessary as it takes a certain momentumof table 32 to overcome the sudden shock of impact of the contactbetween element 48 and the block of material M. A gravity feed withinthe hopper H is shown in this particular embodiment of the invention; itis understood, however, that a feed by force such'as weight, spring,etc., may be substituted.

Compression roller 41 is located slightly in advance of the cutting edge66. Roller 41 is located such that it will form a passage 68 intoopening 43 of table 32. The roller 41 is also located so as to projectslightly above the top surface 68 of the table 32. As clearlyillustrated in Figure 9 this arrangement of roller 41 will slightlycompress by the impact, the block of material M before it is cut. Thiscompression keeps the fibres of the material M in a compact conditionthereby preventing ripping or tearing of the fibres at the time ofcutting. This compression will be also especially beneficial in case theblock of material M being used consists of wood which has undergone aprocessing such as steaming or the like.

The roller 41 may be drivenby pulley 49 and track 58 as illustrated inFigure 3 instead of in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Roller 4'! is acompression and accelerating device and rollers 44, 48, straighteningand traction devices. As shown in Figure 5, the board 46 will have atendency to curl as indicated at C and is made to enter a space betweenrollers 44 and 48. As the roller 48 is a power driven roller it willalso assist in the pick up and delivery of the board 46.

When the block of material M is reduced by the slicing operation, if thethickness of the last remnant of the block is insufficientto cut onecomplete board, this remnant will drop down into space .T (Fig. 10)formed between the bottom of hopper H and top of table 32 after thecutting element shall have passed. The traction on the surface of therotating. table 32 will pull this remnant from underneath hopper H andthe centrifugal force of the rotating table 32 will throw same off table32.

The boards, cut from the material H will drop into space 43 below table32. It is understood suitable conveyor means of well known constructionmay be employed to continuously remove the boards.

By tilting successive cutting elements 48 at opposite angles withrespect to table 32 as shown in Fig. 7 wedge-shaped boards or shinglesmay be produced.

The hopper H when used for cutting wedgeshaped pieces or shingles, isprovided with a tilting anvil operated by the table when in motion asshown in Figs. 15-18, inclusive.

Rotating table 32 has mounted thereon cutting elements 16 and 1'!(similar to elements 48) which are mounted at an angle with respect tothe horizontal plane of the rotating table 32. Mounted on table 32 is aneccentric track I8 preferably made of angle section material.

The distance of track 18 from the shaft 3| is greater at position 19than at position 88, for reasons later explained. The hopper H issupported from a frame member (not shown) of the machine by means ofbracket 35, and is provided with a member 82, slidably mounted withinsupports 83 and 83'. An extension 84 connects with an extension 85 ofthe tilting anvil 88 by means of a fulcrum pin 87. The tilting anvil 86is connected to hopper H by means of fulcrum pin 88. The circulareccentric track 18 slides in groove 89 of extension 98 of sliding member82. The cam shape of this rotatable track 18 (by reason of its camshape) will press against wall 9| of slot 98, thereby forcing thesliding member 82 inwardly'and tilting the anvil 86 as shown in Figure15. Figure 16 shows the portion 88 of the cam-shaped track 18 engagingside 82 of slot 89 thereby forcing the sliding member 82 into theopposite position and tilting the anvil 86 into the position illustratedin Figure 15.

To provide support at all times for the material to be sliced intoWedge-shape pieces as illustrated in Figure 8 the side members 93 and 94of hopper H are made to slide up and down respectively as illustrated inFigures 15 and 16. This is accomplished by means of extensions or arms95, 96 alternately riding on top of wedge-shaped lugs 91, 98.

Instead of circular cam-shaped track I8, two separate track members I88,I8I may be employed as shown in Fig. 19. In this case tilting anvil I82(Fig. 18) is pivotally secured to the end member I82 of hopper H atfulcrum I84, extensions or arms I85, I83 being provided on the tiltinganvil I82. The rotating table 32 will alternately bring circular trackI88 in position under extension I85 thereby raising the tilting anvilI82 on that side as clearly illustrated in Fig. 17. With the other halfturn of thetable 32 the track member I8I will engage portion I88 oftilting anvil I82 thereby raising the tilting anvil on that side.

To raise the slides I01, I88 of hopper H similarly to raising the sidemembers 93, 84, fulcrum. pins I89, II8 are provided in the side membersI81, I88 respectively which engage in corresponding holes in the tiltinganvil I82. Opposite outside walls of hopper H are provided with slotsIII and H2 through which the extension arms I85, I86 project, therebypermitting the tilting anvil I82 to be mounted within the walls of thehopper.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A rotary power slicer comprising a horizontally rotatable table, astationary frame, a hopper fixed to said frame and arranged over saidtable, said hopper being adapted to receive a plurality of pieces ofstock to be fed downward upon said table for the slicing operation, astationary guide member in proximity to said hopper for engagement withsaid table, said table being provided with an opening larger in areathan that of the stock to be sliced, a knife secured to said table andprojecting over said opening,said knife substantially covering saidopening, said hopper being located in the path of said knife and saidopening, a conical roller device rotatably mounted in said opening insuch manner that its longitudinal axis is in vertical alinement with thecutting edge of said knife, said roller projecting partially above thesurface of said table.

2. A rotary power slicer comprising a horizontally rotatable table, astationary hopper arranged adjacent said table, said hopper forreceiving the stock to be fed to said table for the slicing operation,said table being provided with a passage larger in area than that of thestock to be sliced, a knife secured to said table and substantiallycovering said passage, said hopper being located in the track of saidknife, a roller device rotatably mounted in said passage in such mannerthat its longitudinal axis is in substantial alinement with the cuttingedge of said knife, and a second roller device having varying concentricdiameters rotatably mounted under said knife and at the rear of saidfirst roller.

3. A power slicer comprising a rotatable table, a stationary hopperadjacent said table, said hopper being adapted to receive the stock tobe fed to said table forthe slicing operation, said table being providedwith a passage, a knife secured to saidtable and arranged over saidpassage, said hopper being located in the track of said knife, a rollerrotatably mounted in said passage in such manner that its longitudinalaxis is in substantial alinement with the cutting edge of said knife,and a second roller device having varying concentric diameters rotatablymounted under said knife and at the rear of said first roller.

4. A power slicer comprising a horizontally rotatable table, astationary hopper adjacent said table, said hopper being adaptedtoreceive the stock to be fed to said table for the slicing operation,said table being provided with a passage larger in area than that of thestock to be sliced,

a knife on said table and substantially covering said passage, saidhopper being located in the track of said knife, a roller devicerotatably mounted in said passage, and. a second roller device rotatablymounted under said knife and at therear of said first roller, at leastone of said devices being conical.

5. A rotary power slicer'comprising' a horizontally rotatable table, astationary hopper arranged adjacent said table, said hopper forreceiving the stock to be fed to said table for the slicing operation,said table being provided with a passage larger in area than that of thestock to be sliced, a knife secured to said table and substantiallycovering said passage, said hopper being located in the track of saidknife, a roller device rotatably mounted in said passage in such -mannerthat its longitudinal axis is in substantial alinement with the cuttingedge of said knife, and a second roller device rotatably mounted undersaid knife and at the rear of said first roller, and a third rollerbelow said second roller and spaced therefrom for the passage of a piecewhile it is being sliced from the stock, and

means to rotate said last-mentioned roller in a direction opposite tothe direction of'motion of the table.

6. A power slicer comprising a horizontally rolarger in areathan that ofthe stock to be sliced,

a knife on said table and substantially covering said passage, a memberin said passage adjacent the cutting edge of said knife, said member tostrike the stock and compress it in advance of the knife, a secondmember below said knife, and a roller device below said second member,said second member and said device being spaced for passage of a pieceduring the slicing operation and means to drive said device inadirection opposite to the direction of rotation of the table.

7. A power slicer comprising a horizontally rotatable table, astationary hopper adjacent said table, said hopper being adapted toreceive the stock to be fed to said table for the slicing operation,said table being provided with a passage larger in area than that, ofthe stock to be sliced,

a knife on said table and substantially covering saidpassage, a memberin said passage adjacent the cutting edge of said knife, said'member tostrike the stock and compress it in advance of the knife, a secondmember below said knife,

and a roller device below said second member,'said member and saiddevice being spaced for pasknife on said table and substantiallycovering said passage, a member in said passage adjacent the cuttingedge of said knife, said member to I strike the stock and compress it inadvance of the knife, a rotatable device below said knife, a secondrotatable device below said first device and cooperating therewith forstraighteningand urging forward therebetween a piece during the slicingoperation, at least one of said devices comprising a plurality of alinedrollers mounted on a common shaft. I

MARTIN F. KELLEY,

